Using every opportunity to vaccinate children

The rapid development and roll out of vaccines to protect us from COVID-19 brings renewed hope in protection from this global pandemic. School and public health nurses have been and remain at the forefront of delivering the childhood immunisation programme. COVID-19 has sadly seen many of these immunisations delayed, and the negative impact of this in reduced uptake is now being seen (Public Health England, 2021).

Undeterred, the nursing workforce, with its usual determination and doggedness, is using each and every opportunity to offer immunisations, through extended evening/weekend hours ‘catch-up’ sessions, ‘drive-thru’ sites and, opportunistically, at each and every contact. One school nurse reported during the recent SAPHNA webinar that some immunisations have taken place in risk-assessed gardens. Of course, in lockdown, there are many barriers and, indeed, with many children at home, this brings a host of restrictions.

During their annual leave, in spare time and aft er working hours, many nurses have stepped up to support the mass COVID-19 immunisation programme and, with decades of experience, are hailed as a great asset to this tremendous effort.